Thursday, October 08, 2009

Alumni Board Email: 2009 US News Rankings

As you may recall, for the last two previous years at this time the Ave Maria Alumni Association Board of Directors sent correspondence to you regarding the law school's 2007 and 2008 rankings in the U.S. News & World Report.

The U.S. News rankings, which place the schools in one of four tiers, are based on a weighted average of a number of scores including (a) "reputation" scores by law school deans and faculty, lawyers, and judges, (b) median GPAs and LSAT scores, (c) acceptance rates, (d) employment and bar passage rates, (e) student/faculty ratios, and (f) per-student expenditures. Those surveyed for peer assessment were asked to rate programs on a scale from (1) to (5). Here are the 2009 rankings.

-The 2009 peer assessment score remained at 1.3 of a possible 5.0. Last year, the score decreased from 1.4 to 1.3.-The 2009 lawyer's/judge's assessment score decreased from 2.1 to 1.9 of a possible 5.0. Last year, the score remained at 2.1 from the score of two years ago.-The 2009 25th percentile GPA decreased from 2.93 to 2.90. Last year, the percentile decreased from 3.02 to 2.93.-The 2009 75th percentile GPA decreased from 3.47 to 3.46. Last year, the percentile decreased from 3.60 to 3.47.-The 2009 25th percentile LSAT decreased from 147 to 146 of a possible 180. Last year, the percentile decreased from 150 to 147.-The 2009 75th percentile LSAT decreased from 155 to 153 of a possible 180. Last year, the percentile decreased from 158 to 155.-The 2009 acceptance rate increased (that is, worsened) from 51% to 58%. Last year, the acceptance rate decreased (that is, improved) from 52.8% to 51%.-The 2009 student/faculty ratio increased (that is, worsened) from 15.7 to 16.9. Last year, the ratio decreased (that is, improved) from 16.1 to 15.7.-The 2009 nine-month employment rate increased from 73.3% to 80.8%. Last year, the rate decreased from 89.9% to 73.3%.-The 2009 bar passage rate in MI decreased from 96.3% to 75.0%. Last year, the rate improved from 89.3% to 96.3%.

We have also analyzed the law school's 2009 rankings in comparison to other third and fourth tier schools ranked in the U.S. News & World Report. (There are 40 third-tier law schools and 45 fourth-tier law schools.)

-The law school's peer assessment was worse than all third-tier schools and better than or the same (better/same) as 2 fourth-tier schools (or 5%).-The law school's lawyers'/judge's assessment was better/same as 1 third-tier school (or 3%) and better/same as 12 fourth-tier schools (or 27%).-The law school's 25th percentile GPA was better/same as 2 third-tier schools (or 5%) and better/same as 17 fourth-tier schools (or 39%).-The law school's 75th percentile GPA was worse than all third-tier schools and better/same as 20 fourth-tier schools (or 45%).-The law school's 25th percentile LSAT was worse than all third-tier schools and better/same as 5 fourth-tier schools (or 11%).-The law school's 75th percentile LSAT was the same as 1 third-tier school (or 3%) and better/same as 17 fourth-tier schools (or 39%).-The law school's acceptance rate was worse than all third-tier schools and better/same as 5 fourth-tier schools (or 11%).-The law school's student/faculty ratio was better/same as 17 third-tier schools (or 44%) and better/same as 20 fourth-tier schools (or 45%).-The law school's nine-month employment rate was worse than all third-tier schools and better/same as 6 fourth-tier schools (or 14%).

It should be noted that the reputation scores are heavily weighted at 40 percent of the total score. Additionally, a relatively small number of academics, lawyers and judges are asked to rate schools across the country about which they may have very little knowledge. Furthermore, an even smaller number respond to the survey (31% of judges and lawyers). The U.S. News report goes on to explain that "schools with excellent reputations within their communities, states, or regions may not be well known in other parts of the country. None of us has adequate knowledge about more than a tiny handful of law schools so as to permit us, with confidence, to compare them with each other." Therefore, it is good to continue our efforts to share the successes of the Law School and its students with the national legal community.

It should also be noted that his survey of the Law School was taken at a specific point when we were just beginning our relocation preparations, ABA acquiescence to the relocation had not yet been received, and there were questions about the continuation of our full accreditation. It is also worth observing that the Michigan bar passage rate from 2008, which will be reflected in next year's rankings, is significantly higher.

We hope that you find this report informative and welcome your feedback, questions, comments, and concerns about this letter and anything else related to the interests of our alma mater.